Friday, November 23, 2012

A Light and Airy Christmas

I hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful! Tom and I spent it with my very large family
in the Virginia countryside. (Did you know I am the
youngest of 12?) Our lively gathering was
full of warmth, laughter, food and more food.

On the topic of Virginia, have you seen the
elegant and bright stone house in the Nov/Dec
2012 issue of Traditional Home magazine? Architect Christian Zapatka thoughtfully renovated and expanded this home for the Jeffress family, bringing in more light and a better flow. The interiors were decorated by my good friend and renowned designer, Frank
Babb Randolph. Frank chose a light palette and many pieces from Tone on Tone. The stone house looks especially ethereal and beautiful for Christmas.

Please note: all photos are by Werner Straube for Traditional Home. I've included a few shots that were not published. To read further and see even more photos, please pick up an issue of Traditional Home on newstands now.

96 comments:

A feast for the eyes - a Christmas feast for the eyes. Soft grey, white and touches of green, together some of your exquisite finds from Scandinavia. A beautiful stairway - the white paintwork contrasting with the black is a stroke of design brilliance.

Hello Loi, I looked at the article first, and definitely recognized the Loi Thai touch in many of the pieces. The quality of light in that house is fantastic, and contributes a lot to the feeling. The total effect is wonderful, and I noticed that I like virtually every individual piece. I do miss seeing some of the original farmhouse feeling from the inside, and I hope that there is also some more relaxed, put-your-feet-up kind of area.

By the way, I enjoyed seeing your shop nicely featured in the Pigtown Design blog.--Road to Parnassus

Wow Loi your Thanksgiving sounds like fun and joyous with such a big crowd glad you had a nice holiday. I just picked up my copy of Traditional Home and now can't wait to see this house it's beautiful. Love the Swedish Gustavian table in the sunroom with ivy leaves, stunning! All your pieces are beautiful you have such a great eye.

A stunning home, perfectly accessorised by your fabulous Swedish furniture. I spotted something the other day entitled " Covet and Yearn" a perfect description of what happens to me when I read your posts. They had me at the front door! I dream of owning a Gustavian table just like the one on your photo's and as for those chairs they look so beautifully elegant and comfortable too, which is just as important. The sweet little botton back upholstered chair, delicious, perfect for a roving grandaughter dressed in her Christmas sparkle.

I am sighing. Oh Loi, that house...that stone! I am partial to all things organic in this sense: wood, stone, branches, and accessories derived from nature like CRYSTAL, metals....but rich textures from textiles made with expertise are what I love and this home with so much light is a joyous celebration in art and architecture. BRAVO TO YOU ALL for collaborating on sharing this work and wonder! Your Thanksgiving sounds like a REAL TREAT! TWELVE YOU SAY? FABULOUS! Oh how I miss the days being with a large family.

You have now inspired me to get my white/gray decorations up by next week and let me tell you, I would LOVE to go shopping in your shop!! Anita

Hi Loi,Sounds like a lovely holiday, and NO, I didn't know you have 11 siblings! Wow. The Jeffries home is spectacular! and your items in there help to make it so. We had a great Thanksgiving and it's still going on with family gatherings. Have a wonderful weekend.xo NancyPowellbrowerhome.com

Beautiful home! I could tell which pieces came from your shop. They're lovely. I can't believe you're the youngest of 12 children. I'm an only child, so it's hard for me to imagine having even one sibling. I'll bet your holiday gatherings are quite a lot of fun -- and interesting too!Claudia

Well Loi as the youngest of 12 you were either smothered with love or ignored! LOL:) I should have known your hand/shop was involved in that home. It had been a while since I bought a copy of Traditional Home, and it was that home that compelled me to pick one up. What a thoughtful renovation and interior design project. It is always so nice to see a family excited about the prospect of the next phase...The Jeffress family is well poised for many years of living beautifully with their family.

The Virginia home was my favorite in the issue BEFORE I knew your touch was through out!!!! Love the home and sensed something about the "look" and you, before I read this post!!!! Of course, I have just checked the Reader's Resources pages and made sure you were listed......and there you were!!!

We are refinishing our relatively new (2 years old) cabinetry using Chalk Paint in French Linen. I believe, without a doubt, that your influence inspired me!!! So far it's fabulous. So thank you for the inspiration...

Dear Loi - A lovely house, and of course I immediately picked out the pieces from Tone on Tone! I like the classic look of the interior detail, especially that wonderful frieze surrounding the sun room.

Hi Loi, What a beautiful house - a stone house is what I dream of. I love the floors, that is what I will do in the next house, and the pieces from Tone on Tone are stunning. I am interested the dark stair treads - do you know if they are painted?Your blessed mother - 12 children - it must be a lot of fun, though. I would love to see your Christmas!xoxo,P

Dear Loi, What a beautiful house! I picked up a copy earlier this week because of some pictures that really 'talk' to me! Wouldn't have dared and not center that Christmas tree on the round table but it all seems to work here! Last picture is very Tone on Tone, just like some other pieces in the house, great job!

Beautiful and ethereal. Can you imagine it on a snowy day - it would be incredible. Agree w/Henhurst, God Bless your mom! My mother-in-law was here for Thanksgiving and we had 6 of her 9 children here. Sounds like you had a wonderful day too.

So glad to hear that you and Tom had a happy Thanksgiving! Family of 12? Wow, that is a big family. I can't even imagine what that is like. It must be very noisy, but in the best possible way!Thank you for sharing this wonderful home all decorated for Christmas!! I've been wondering if I should add some magnolia leaves to my mantel and when I saw the magnolia and pinecones photo I decided "yes!" I must do that!The lamp made out of a chimney piece is so beautiful!!! I love it!

Loi, Such a lovely home, understated elegance at it's best!!I love this time of year and look forward to your Christmas post!! I feel like a kid this time of year. Let the Fa-la-laing begin!!xo Kathysue

Good morning Loi....So glad you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I love the simplicity of the Christmas decorations. Simple but, elegant... I'm trying to get ideas on how to decorate my home this year with out putting up the tree! Boy, I can imaging your home on Christmas....12 children...that must of been fun on Christmas morning.

Happy Holidays you one of 12- what a homecoming that must be! Just spoke to one of my friends in Maryland-must come to visit them soon and see your shop again(now that I know you) The photos are beautiful as are your furnishings. Love to you.xxpeggybraswelldesign.com

Holy Mary, Mother of Jesus!!! (did I get that right? I'm a Jewish [Hungarian] girl from Indiana - originally) This is all so beautiful, I feel sick right now. Kinda like living on my current diet of pumpkin pie (topped with LOTS of homemade whipped cream). Love ~ L

Loi-I am so happy that you were able to spend time with your family and that you had a wonderful time!These images are gorgeous! Thank you for sharing. I love this months issue. Frank is so talented!Happy Saturday.Teresaxoxo

Hi Loi, so glad you and Tom had a lovely Thankagiving. Sounds like you probably have nieces and nephews who are older than you. Haha. The house you shared is so dreamy. I just love it. The homeowners must be so proud. I am such a fan of all of Frank Babb Randolph's work that I've had the pleasure of seeing. You are definitely part of a beautiful world of gifted people!! :)

Oh, you know how much I love this house! I just downloaded every single picture last night! I had forgotten that you told me your good friend decorated it! Tell him it's truly spectacular! Glad you had such a great time with your family! That's so special and I'm sure many great memories were made!

Truly loved this home,and of course some of your pieces I would expect to grace this wonderful interior space!! Also God bless your mother for having 12 children! That is Amazing, and I can only imagine that household growing up. I can hardly handle my 3 girls on some days! xo Karolyn

Hey there Loi!!!Oh my oh my... stunning on every level!!! You're pieces made that home! I love the guilt mirror over the Swedish chest; I wish your shop was closer by! It sounds like your Thanksgiving was dreamy, nothing I love more than lots of fun family and friends. My husband comes from a family of eleven... never a dull moment hahaha!!! Best wishes to you and thanks for the stunning inspiration!!

what a stunning home carefully edited and filled with serene statement pieces, oh your shop must be breathtaking. i am going back to see just where your shop is, going to charlottesville this spring. would love to meet you loi.

Hi Loi - Thanks for sharing this beautiful home with us! The pieces from your shop are amazing. My favorite is the French silver gilt mirror. Just stunning. I'm looking forward to Christmas decorating at home and this is such nice inspiration!

Loi,Wow, lucky you...I'm an only child and always thought it would be fun to have siblings.I loved this house when I first opened this month's Traditional Home. It's great seeing some additional photos and I can definitely spot the Tone on Tone pieces. Such a pretty and calming holiday decor.Karen

not only did i see the spread in traditional home--i immediately showed my husband because i knew he would love all the scandinavian touches and bragged 'i know this shop keeper!' we both love that shot of the chest from tone on tone.

congratulations on this publication and recognition, loi.

i am getting ready to fly to arizona so there won't be too much decorating until i return. wish i could just snap my fingers!

12 children? As a Mom of 3, that just amazes me. I guess everyone has their limit!I'm sure your Thanksgiving was fantastic. Now that Charlie is in NY, it was just the four of us. Hmmm... maybe I should've had a few more children. Ha!

This house is so beautiful. I love the holiday decor... not too overdone. Of course I adore the Tone on Tone pieces.

I don't know which has my jaw dropping further...that you are one of 12 or that stone house! I've always adored stone houses. My very favorite exterior for sure. Now about being 1 of 12, that's amazing! I can only imagine how many memories are created and retold at your family gatherings! The Virginia countryside sounds like a beautiful spot to gather! Welcome home!

How lucky you are to be part of such a large family! It must be a lovely atmosphere when the clan comes together for happy holidays!

Loi, I am in love with this gorgeous stone house! I've dreamt of a house just like this forever! Everything about it is exquisite, including your beautiful pieces from the shop. Thanks for sharing this charming residence and letting us live the dream, here, in your picture perfect posts!

I DID see this house and it is absolutely STUNNING. Your pieces fit perfectly and are easily picked out as we look through the photos. That garland on the mantle is so pretty and the trees are dressed to perfection.

I'm rushing out right now to purchase my copy of Tradigtional Home .... oh no .... that's right ... I live in Australia so it should be in the newagents around March !! I'll wait patiently. The youngest of twelve. How marvellous. My Mum was the oldest of nine. As someone once said to her "How character building". Thank you again for the luscious inspiration. Eye candy at it's finest.

Thank you, Felicity! I would love to be in Australia now....enjoying late spring! You had asked about my garden pots in my previous post. The pots are new and naturally get a mossy patina from constant watering. All the myrtles and ferns love water. Loi

Loi, the french lamp that was formerly a chimney piece is really stunning,. I love unique pieces like that. All the holiday decor is so inspiring....me makes me want to stop renovating and start decorating for the holiday season:)!!Best wishes,Sarah

The atmosphere is really wonderful, Loi. The house looks bright, calm and yet festive. Indeed perfectly. I`m glad that your pieces find their place in the home and create a perfect harmony. Thank you for sharing with us. Have a wonderful weekend!!Hugs,

How fun to have so many siblings - always makes for entertaining family gatherings. Loved the glimpse into this beautiful stone home. I was happy to see the laser cut wooden ornaments which are displayed on their petite tree. I have the same ones which I purchased from Cherishables Antiques years ago. After they closed, the owner was kind enough to invite us to her home in Bethesda so we could purchase the pieces to complete our set. They're still my favorites.

Dear friend, There is award on my blog for you as a sign of gratitude for your friendship and support. Come and have a look when you have time. Greetings,Vesnahttp://vesna-kreativnostidrugesitnice.blogspot.com/

So glad to read that you and Tom spent time with your lovely family. My Dad is the oldest of 13, my siblings and I are five gals and 1 guy. It's a wonderful lifetime experience it does set the tone..lol...for your life. Especially gratifying when all families (spouses and children) gather during the holidays smiling faces, hugs, kisses, and heart felt emotions that "Thanksgiving" is the greatest and worth all the lists, menu planning, preparing and traveling for.

All the work from Architect Christian Zapatka for the Jeffress family, designer Frank Babb Randolph and the palette from Tone on Tone are a symphony playing out in this holiday house...it's stunning!

Wow, congrats Loi. I'm so proud to know you!!! ha ha. I went back and looked through my Trad Home magazine, everything is simply stunning. Your shop has the most beautiful pieces that find their way into the most beautiful homes. Thank you for sharing this lovely home with us, and adding more pics than we got in the magazine. Glad you and Tom had a wonderful Thanksgiving. That large gathering sounds like a lot of fun. Noisy...but fun!! And now ...on to Christmas.

I love architectural lamps and that one is one of the most magnificent I have ever seen. I loved the spread in TRAD but I love it even more now that I know so much of what makes that home special came from your shop. You have such a wonderful eye. I can't believe you came from a family of twelve! Where are you in the mis? You would have fit right in at our crazy Thanksgiving! Happy Holidays! Cindy

So gorgeous inside and out, dear Loi! Your pieces are such signatures...I associate the style with you now! Just stunning...And you are the youngest of twelve? Wow, never a dull moment in your house, I'm sure...that's amazing!So happy that you had a wonderful Thanksgiving...Wishes for a splendid week!Hugs,- Irina

Dear Loi, this home reminds me of one very close to us in the country, love stone houses! I can see why you would be a great source for fabulous finds, they make the interiors here !! Having a large family like you have must be so much fun and lively too!! Hope you will have great memories of your time together over the holidays..always very beautiful and inspirational posts, N.xo

Our renovation is not moving quickly enough for me, but we are getting there!!

Loi, Congratulations. All of your furnishings are stunning in this setting. Are those live trees for Christmas? My favorite. I am also happy to see light wood floors. I have been feeling guilty that my floors are natural, and not dark like you see all over. I really like light floors. I do need to stain my banister railing dark, though. Great post.

I love stone houses, so the one in Traditional Home did catch my eye, although I did not read the fine print to realize that so many of their beautiful furnishings were attributed to you! I noticed that they even gave you credit for the plaster wall ornament on the wall to the sunroom (which is beautiful, and you have shown it in one of the photos above), even though it was not published in the magazine. Also love the way the houseplants were displayed, reminiscent of your recent post on houseplants. Pretty blue ribbon on the wreaths -- I may do something like that this year. Cool that you are part of such a large family, Loi -- you don't see that much anymore!!

Loi, this was my favorite spread in Traditional Home and I was thrilled to look at the credits and see Tone on Tone! So much gorgeousness. Love everything you contributed to this beautiful home. I'm so glad you were able to enjoy Thanksgiving with your family!

Holy light and airy is right. What a stunning home and I love all of the white. How lucky to be "represented" in that beautiful home :) One of 12.....I bet it was busy at the dinner table...I know it was at ours and I was one of 4.

My daughter (married to a Swede) was looking through my "Traditional Home" magazine over Thanksgiving and exclaimed, "Mom..isn't that one of your fav blogs - Tone on Tone?!?!" A great read!! Kudos! franki

the things from your shop, loi, are so well chosen. again, I am impressed with the pairing of the mahogany table with the swedish chairs, just like you have done in your home. the mix looks so natural, yet I wouldn't have thought so.

wonderful look at that home, loi. thanks. your space here is such a treat for us all. donna

What a beautiful home. I love the photograph of the outside of the house decorated with wreathes. The Tone on Tone items look wonderful in the house. It is beautiful. What a treat to read your blog Loi. It is such a treat to see your inspiration. Cheers.

How amazing!! I swear, when I saw the foyer, I showed my Mom and said this looks like something my friend, Loi, would have in his house!! BTW, my mom LOVES everything you do:-) Did not know that you were one of 12!!! That is incredible!! My husband is one of 9 and I thought his Dad was crazy;-) The house is wonderful. What I really love is that the house looks like it has always been there. A true complement to the architecture and design! The wreaths are fabulous, as is...EVERYTHING!! xoxo, K

Such a gorgeous home. I especially love the stone exterior with all the wreaths. So beautiful! I spied the pieces from Tone on Tone too!I'm amazed that you are the youngest of 12! Thanksgiving must have been a blast. Happy holidays to you! ~DeloresPS: How are your darling TT's?

To say that the house is stunning would be an understatement! Lovely, serene and made even more magical by your fabulous antique finds. Oddly enough I loved the house when I first read the article but it never dawned on me that those were your finds.

It sounds like you had a wonderful holiday! My mother has 9 brothers and sisters so I am incredibly to have lots of aunts, uncles and cousins, not to mention my brother and two sisters! I love gatherings where we are all together and eating, relaxing, playing games, etc.

I hope you have a beautiful and relaxing holiday season, thank you Loi for always showing the most beautiful in life, from your travels, to your home, furniture, gardens, and shop. You are a treasure and I am so happy I discovered you.

One of 12...your holidays must be wonderfully chaotic. I'm one of four girls and ours are so much fun with all of our spouses, children, etc...I just love this month's Traditional Home magazine and the home is fabulous. Love the beautifully serene decor and your pieces are stunning, of course!!

This home is so inspiring! I'm in love with all the details! Your pieces are right at home there too. Just spectacular. XX

P.S. My hubby is the youngest of 12 too! I never thought I would hear that from anyone else!!. We always get raised eyebrows followed by an open mouth when we tell this to people. I knew there was a link between us:-).

That house is beautiful. I love stone exteriors. I also adore the interior... you have a wonderful talent for beauty and simplicity. I can hardly believe you come from a family of twelve! I imagine it is so much fun when you all gather together.